April 4 final day to register for May election

April 01, 2011

LANSING — Secretary of State Ruth Johnson reminds residents that they have until Monday, April 4, to register in order to vote in the May 3 election.

“I encourage everyone who is not yet registered to take this opportunity to do so,” said Johnson, Michigan’s chief election officer. “This is your opportunity to celebrate your freedom and have your voice heard on Election Day.”

Of Michigan’s 83 counties, 77 are holding elections but because school districts sometimes cover more than one county, residents of 82 counties will have the opportunity to vote. A list of communities with scheduled elections can be found at www.Michigan.gov/sos. The polls will be open on Election Day from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

To register, applicants must be at least 18 years old by Election Day and be U.S. citizens. Applicants must also be residents of Michigan and of the city or township in which they wish to register.

Voters may register by mail; at their county, city or township clerk’s office or by visiting any Secretary of State branch office. The mail-in form is on the Department of State Web site at www.Michigan.gov/sos.

First-time voters who register by mail must vote in person in their first election, unless they hand-deliver the application to their local clerk, are 60 years old or older, are disabled or are eligible to vote under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act.

To check their registration status, residents may visit the Michigan Voter Information Center at www.Michigan.gov/vote. Residents also can find information there on absentee voting, Michigan’s voter identification requirement, how to use voting equipment and how to contact their local clerk. In addition, they will find a map to their local polling place and a sample ballot.

Voters who qualify may choose to cast an absentee ballot on Election Day. As a registered voter, you may obtain an absentee ballot if you are age 60 or older; physically unable to attend the polls without the assistance of another; expecting to be out of town on Election Day; in jail awaiting arraignment or trial; unable to attend the polls due to religious reasons; or appointed to work as an election inspector in a precinct outside of your precinct of residence.

Those who wish to receive their absentee ballot by mail must submit their application by 2 p.m. Saturday, April 30. Absentee ballots can be obtained in person anytime through 4 p.m. Monday, May 2. Voters who request an absentee ballot in person May 2 must vote the ballot in the clerk’s office.

Emergency absentee ballots are available under certain conditions through 4 p.m. on Election Day.

As a reminder, voters will be asked to provide identification when at the polls on Election Day. They will be asked to present valid photo ID, such as a Michigan driver’s license or identification card. Anyone who does not have an acceptable form of photo ID or failed to bring it with them to the polls can still vote. They will be required to sign a brief affidavit stating that they’re not in possession of photo ID. Their ballots will be included with all others and counted on Election Day.

Voters who don’t have a Michigan driver’s license or identification card can show the following forms of photo ID, as long as they are current: driver’s license or personal identification card issued by another state, federal or state government-issued photo identification, U.S. passport, military identification card with photo, student identification with photo from a high school or an accredited institution of higher education, such as a college or university or tribal identification card with photo.

Additional election information can be found at www.Michigan.gov/sos.

For more information about voting and the Secretary of State’s Office, visit its Web site (www.Michigan.gov/sos), and sign up for the official Twitter feed (www.twitter.com/Michsos) and Facebook updates (www.facebook.com/Michigansos).